Kaleb, center, with Capitol City Pastor Eliot Brooks, left and Lake Region Evangelist Cody Miller.
Debbie Michel
November 4, 2025The two homes couldn’t have been more different. At my grandparents’ house there were rules—curfews, chores, Sabbath mornings at church. At my mom’s, there were none. I could stay out all night, hang out with whoever I wanted and do whatever I pleased. As I got older, I drifted more toward my mom’s side, chasing that so-called freedom.
That freedom came at a cost. By high school I was selling drugs, partying and living what I considered the high life. At first it felt exciting, but after a while it became the same tired cycle—making money, losing it, starting over. Deep down, I knew I wanted something more.
Earlier this year, at 24, I finally moved back in with my grandparents. Harold Lumsey, an elder at the Indianapolis Capitol City Church, and his wife Inell welcomed me even though my life was a mess. When I came home drunk, they didn’t kick me out. Instead, they showed patience. They simply asked me not to come in intoxicated, so sometimes I’d sit at the park until I sobered up before walking inside. They kept their door and hearts open to me.
This fall, they invited me to an evangelistic series called “The Plug” at the Capitol City Church. I showed up the first night not knowing what to expect. As soon as Pastors Cody Miller and Eliot Brooks started preaching, I realized this was different. They spoke my language. Pastor Cody talked about being a “Christian atheist”—someone who says they believe but lives like God doesn’t exist. That hit home. He also used the term “body bag” to describe life without Christ. On the streets, that meant violence and death. Hearing it used in connection with faith opened my eyes.
That first night I left feeling something I hadn’t felt in years—happy. It wasn’t just the preaching. The people remembered me from when I was a young boy attending Sabbath School, church and Lake Region summer camps. They hugged me and welcomed me like I was a celebrity. For someone used to cold stares and fake smiles, that kind of love felt overwhelming.
Most people were coming to “The Plug” for the food and baby diapers the church was giving away. I wanted to give something back. When I heard the church was offering free haircuts, I brought my tools and volunteered. Cutting hair has always meant a lot to me because it’s something I can start and finish. After so many unfinished chapters in my life, completing a haircut and seeing someone smile gave me hope.
The more I came to “The Plug,” the more I realized I couldn’t keep living in the old cycle. Too many of my friends had already died young. I didn’t want to wait until it was too late. I made the decision to give my life to Christ and was baptized on Friday, Sept. 26. That day, surrounded by my grandparents and church family, I felt hopeful. For once, I wasn’t just surviving—I was building. And this time, with God’s help, I’m determined to keep moving forward.
Kaleb Sargent, as told to Debbie Michel.
